FIA Uncovers Alleged Illegal Skid-Block Trick Used by Multiple Formula 1 Teams
A fresh controversy has emerged in Formula 1 after reports surfaced that the FIA has identified a questionable and potentially illegal technique being used by several teams throughout the season, with suspicions intensifying after the Brazilian Grand Prix. According to Japanese outlet as-web.jp, the governing body has gathered evidence suggesting that multiple teams may have been exploiting heat-reactive skid blocks—components that expand when exposed to high temperatures—in order to gain extra performance by running their cars lower than the regulations allow.
The issue centres around the skid block and plank assembly installed beneath every F1 car. These components, typically made from composite materials like Jabroc and fitted with titanium skid plates, are crucial for regulating how low a car can run. Their primary purpose is to prevent teams from excessively lowering the ride height to seek additional downforce, while also protecting the chassis from grinding against the track surface. After each race, the FIA conducts strict inspections to determine whether the skid plank and skid blocks have worn beyond permitted limits. Excessive wear leads to instant disqualification, as seen earlier this season when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was thrown out of the Chinese Grand Prix results for excessive plank wear.
However, concerns were raised by several team principals and technical directors following the Brazilian GP. Observers noticed that some cars were operating at noticeably low ride heights—low enough to suggest that they should have suffered significant skid plank wear, yet they consistently passed post-race inspections. This anomaly prompted suspicions that rivals might be using specially designed skid blocks that expand when heated, effectively manipulating wear measurements.
According to the report, these questionable skid blocks are alleged to increase in size as their temperature rises during running. When they expand, they push downward, sitting slightly lower than the plank itself. This trick would reduce the amount of actual contact between the plank and the track surface, thereby minimizing wear in areas the FIA inspects. By appearing to meet the minimum wear standards, teams could run their cars significantly lower to the ground—gaining improved grip, better cornering ability, and superior lap times—without triggering regulatory penalties.
Jo Bauer, the FIA’s respected technical delegate, reportedly became aware of these suspicions and took action. Before the qualifying session in Brazil, he is said to have conducted an unusually thorough inspection of all skid blocks across the grid. During this inspection, Bauer allegedly found devices or systems attached to certain cars that appeared to serve no purpose other than heating the skid blocks. Such devices would be a clear breach of the regulations, which require the skid blocks and plank to remain at the same height and not be altered by heating, mechanical manipulation, or any other means intended to circumvent wear checks.
Upon discovering these irregularities, Bauer reportedly instructed those teams to remove the devices immediately before qualifying. This directive may explain why a number of teams experienced a sudden drop or shift in performance between the sprint race and the qualifying session—suggesting that the removal of these mechanisms affected the consistency of their ride heights and, consequently, their overall speed.
While the extent of participation varies, the report claims that almost every team on the grid has experimented with or actively used this heat-based skid block method to some degree. On certain circuits—particularly smooth tracks where cars can run extremely low without bouncing—teams employing the technique are believed to have gained a noticeable advantage.
In response to the situation, the FIA is reportedly preparing a new technical directive aimed at eliminating the use of expandable or heat-manipulated skid blocks. This directive is expected to clarify acceptable materials, restrict heating methods, and reinforce strict guidelines around underbody components.
However, some insiders believe that the long-term significance of this trick may be limited. With the sport preparing for a major regulation overhaul in 2026—including new chassis, aerodynamic concepts, and power unit specifications—the entire underfloor design philosophy is due for a reset. As a result, any gains made from exploiting this grey area might prove short-lived.
Nevertheless, the discovery has once again highlighted the relentless innovation—and occasional rule-bending—that characterizes Formula 1. As the FIA moves to tighten scrutiny, the incident serves as a reminder that in a sport defined by microscopic margins, teams will always push the limits to find performance wherever they can, sometimes venturing into areas regulators never anticipated.
